Yunjin Kim

Yunjin Kim studied at British American Drama Academy, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and Boston University College of Fine Arts. The recorded working language is English and Korean. Distinctions recorded are Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress.

• Name — Yunjin Kim • Born — 7 November 1973 • Birthplace — Seoul, South Korea • Education — Boston University (BFA) • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1996–present • Agent — Zion Entertainment • Citizenship — * South Korea • United States

Kim was born in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. She emigrated to the United States with her family in 1983–1984. They lived in Staten Island, New York. She joined the middle school drama club in the 7th grade and performed in the musical My Fair Lady. Kim attended high school at the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, graduating in 1989. From there, she went on to study drama at the London Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA), and later earned her BFA degree in drama at Boston University. She is also a trained dancer and martial arts fighter.

After graduation, Kim played several minor parts on MTV, in soap opera-style dramas on ABC, and on the off-Broadway stage. In 1996, Kim decided to return to Korea, where she starred in Splendid Holiday (1997). She was then cast in the TV drama Wedding Dress. Her breakthrough debut came in the 1999 film Shiri, South Korea's first blockbuster film. Shiri became the highest-grossing film in South Korean history at the time. In November 2000, she continued her association with Kang Je-gyu in The Legend of Gingko. After acting in a Japanese film and a feature set in Los Angeles, Kim appeared in the sci-fi feature Yesterday. Then in 2002, Kim took the lead role in the feature film debut of documentarist Byun Young-ju, Ardor. In 2004, Kim started appearing in the U.S. television series Lost, which ran for six seasons. In 2006 she was featured on the cover of Stuff, as well as an inside spread. In 2006, Maxim named Kim number 98 on its annual Hot 100 List. • Illustration — Kim in 2011 In 2013, she had a leading role in the ABC drama series Mistresses. • Illustration — Kim in 2015 In 2018, Kim returned to South Korean television by headlining the series Ms. Ma, Nemesis. In 2022, she starred as Seon Woo-jin in the South Korean remake of Money Heist, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area. In 2023, she acted as Principal Jina Lim in English-Korean Netflix TV Series, XO, Kitty. In 2025, she appeared in the Sony Pictures Animation/Netflix animated musical film, KPop Demon Hunters as the voice of Celine.

Kim married her former manager Park Jeong-hyeok in March 2010 on the island of Oahu, after shooting her final scenes for Lost.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference(s) • 1996 — Splendid Holiday • 1997 — Foreboding — Jang Se-young • 1998 — Wedding Dress Drama — Gina • 1999 — Love in 3 Colors — Jang Hee-ju • 2004–2010 — Lost — Sun-Hwa Kwon • 2013–2016 — Mistresses — Karen Kim • 2018 — Ms. Ma, Nemesis — Ms. Ma / Ma Ji Won • 2022 — Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area — Seon Woo-jin — Part 1–2 • 2023 — XO, Kitty — Principal Jina Lim — Season 1 • 2024 — Station 19 — Jeonghee Lee — Episode: "Ushers of the New World" • 2026 — Notes from the Last Row — Ahn Eun-joo

• Year — Title — Voice role — Ref. Reference(s) • 2007 — Lost: Via Domus — Sun-Hwa Kwon • 2012 — Sleeping Dogs — Tiffany Kim

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement • Publisher — Year — Listicle — Rank — Ref. Reference(s) • Korean Film Council — 2021 — Korean Actors 200 • The Screen — 2009 — 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies • 2019 — 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies

Yunjin Kim is recorded as actress, singer and dancer.